or before, for in 1107 this Earl Roger died. The next that I meet with was another
William de Verdun, who lived in 1207, and was succeeded by
Bertram de Verdun, lord here, and of Moulton, in 1212. His son,
Wydo, who is sometimes called Hugo de Verdune, in 1211, gave King John 100l. that he might, with his approbation, marry Petromilla, widow of Henry de Mara, and have her land. He was lord in 1226, for then the tenants brought a writ against him for surcharging the common pasture. He left it to
Sir John de Verdune, Knt. and Wigona, or Dionisia de Verdon, (for so I find her called in one feodary,) and her partners; Sir John held one fee, and she another, here and in Hapeton, about 1264: in 1276, Sir John settled this manor on himself for life, remainder to Thomas, his son, and Thomasine, his wife; and for want of heirs it was to go to John, his other son, who in 1280 inherited on this settlement, and was a ward of the Earl-Marshal's. In 1285 he claimed view of frankpledge, assize of bread and ale, infangthef, gallows, and free-warren in all his lands and manors in Norfolk, viz. Brisingham, Multon Magna, Saxlyngham, and Reydon; all which privileges were granted to his father by King Henry III. as the charter then produced evidently proved. How long he lived I cannot say, but
John was his son and heir, who, in 1300, held this manor of the Earl of Norfolk, at one fee; for which he paid no castle-guard, but was forced to do his homage to John Abbot of Bury, at his manor-house of Redgrave, and pay his relief and scutage, as his predecessors had always done; he died soon after, for in 1302, and in 1306,
Thomas de Verdon held, in Brisingham, Moulton, Saxlingham, Astacton, Tibenham, Hapeton, Shadnefield, and Forncet, eight fees of the Earl-Marshal. He died in 1315, and left them to
Sir John de Verdon, his son, who in 1328, jointly with Maud his wife, levied a fine, to settle Moulton and other manors on themselves, for life, and John, their son, and his heirs. I have several ancient accounts of this manor in his time, in which it appears, that the Prior of Blitheburgh had 12d. a year paid him out of it, and that it paid 4d. per annum to the hundred of Diss, for the leet fee, the lord of the hundred having granted this manor liberty of a leet for that payment, and for suit of the hundred court; which being troublesome, the lord paid 3s. per annum in lieu thereof. The manor-house stood near Brisingham wood, in the hall grounds; the swan-hill, and the large moat still [1736] remaining, plainly shew the site of it. In this seat the Verdons had lived many ages, but now Sir John removed hence to Mardesham in Suffolk. I have seen an inventory of the goods left in the house here, dated 1328, among which, several things for the use of the chapel are named, and a poor's box standing at the great hall-door; the custom of that time being, to put in what every one pleased, instead of giving servants, as is usual now.
